Pocketed game table and runway apparatus



Dec. 26, 1950 B. c. H. PARK ET AL 2,535,595

POCKETED GAME TABLE AND RuNwAY APPARATUS Filed OGL. 13, 1949 'l 32 56 50 fg 1 /6 $2/ \72 Bernard C. H. Park 54 68 Jae L. ,9a/dwf ,/20 By d/way @Mexm Patented Dec. 26, 1950 OFFICE POCKETED GAME TABLE AND APPARATUS RUN WAY Bernard C. H. Park and Joe L. Baldwin, Appleton City, Mo.

Application October 13, 1949, Serial No. 121,136

3 Claims.

This invention appertains to novel improvements in game tables and is particularly directed to a table, similar to a pocket billiard table.

The primary object of this invention is to enable the balls falling into pockets around the table top to be returned to either of the ends of the table.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a game table, which is especially adapted for use in playing a new type of billiard game, the table having novelly constructed pockets disposed at the marginal edges of the table top, the pockets being set back from the edges so as to increase the amount of skill needed to propel the balls into the pockets.

These and ancillary objects and structural features of merit are attained by this invention, the preferred embodiment of which is set forth in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the game table, constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Figure l Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view of the side pocket construction.

In the accompanying drawing, the game table I includes a rectangular frame I2, having a laterally disposed ilange or rail I4 formed on the upper edges thereof. Lateral flanges I5 are formed at the lower edges of the frame and the upper surfaces thereof are beveled as at IB.

The corners of the frame support legs 20 by means of a corner construction 22. The corner construction includes a right angular member 24 disposed parallel with the sides and ends of the frame I2 and spaced therefrom by blocks 26 and 28. The member 24 is secured to the side and end of the frame, at the corner thereof, by transverse bolts 30. A bracket 32 is secured to the member 24 by the bolts 3U and the upper end 34 of the leg 20 is secured to the bracket by a fastening member 36. This construction is illustrated in Figure l. The ends of the member 24 are connected to the frame I2 by transverse bars 38 and 4U to form a centrally disposed end pocket 42 and side pockets 44. The side pockets 44 are formed by the transverse bars 38 and by longitudinally extending inner bars 46 joined to the sides of the frame I2 by transverse slats 48.

It is to be particularly noted that the pockets are formed so that the marginal edges of the table top 50 extend into the pockets, as seen in Figures 3 and 4. In this respect, the table top, which is horizontally disposed, is supported on the upper ends of the legs 25, the table top resting on the ends 34 and the upper edges of the brackets 32, as seen in Figure 2. However, it is to be noted that each of the side and end pockets is spaced inwardly from the edge of the table top 50, thereby increasing the skill required, in that it is more diflicult to pocket a ball rolled along the inner surface of the members 24 and the side bars 46. The members 24 and the side bars 46 form the sides of the table top 50 and are preferably constructed of wood and. are disposed perpendicularly to the upper surface or playing surface of the table top. These walls are unpadded or uncushioned, so that a rubber ball |50 may be used and may be banked off the walls, as seen in Figure 1, and directed thereby into one of the side or end pockets. O'f course, the number of side walls or end walls, against which the ball is banked, before entering one of the pockets, determines the score achieved. However, the ball return means 52, which is disposed beneath the table top 50 may be used with any type of pocket billiard table and is not particularly limited to attachment to the particular table aforedescribed.

In this respect, the ball return means includes a longitudinally disposed channel member or runway 54, which is pivotally secured to the lower ends of a pair of suspended angle members or brackets 56 depending from the underside of the table top 50 at the center thereof. The opposing ends of the runway 54 overlie ball return receptacles 60 and 62 formed at the opposing ends of the table. In this respect, the ends of the frame I2 extend downwardly below the sides of the frame and have bottom walls 63 secured thereto, the bottom walls being formed at their inner ends with upstanding flanges 64. Openings 56 are formed in the end walls of the frame so as to enable balls returned and resting on the bottom wall 63 to be retrieved.

The opposing walls of the channel shaped runway 54 are formed with cut-out portions 56 to recelve the inner ends 68 of transversely disposed U-shaped or channel shaped gutters l0. The gutters are hingedly or pivotally secured as at 'l2 to the inner sides of the flanges I6, as seen in Figure 3.

It can thus be seen that the longitudinal runway 54 can be pivoted on a central horizontal axis to selectively position either of the ends thereof in a lowered position on the respective end receptacle,

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A game table comprising a top, supporting legs for said top, upstanding side and end walls on the edges of the top, said Walls having spaced vertical openings formed therein and communieating with the top, ball return receptacles at the opposingends' of the top, alongitudinalrum way pivoted at its mid point on a horizontal transverse axis and to the central portion of the underside of the table, transverse gutters pivotally secured to the underside of the table for movement about horizontal longitudinal axes and resting on the runway, said gutters communicating with the openings in the sidewalls andthe opposing ends of the runway overlying the return receptacles.

2. In a game table, a top having an upstandmarginal rim, said rim having openingsV therein, a longituinally extending runway pivoted at its mid-point on a horizontal transverse axis and to the central portion of the underside of the table top, ballv return receptacles. attheopposing endsl ofthe table, the opposing ends of the runway being disposed adjacent to a-ndcommunicat.- ing with the receptacles, gutters pivotallyv carriedby the. table for movement about` horizontal longitudinal axes and supported on the runway, and said gutters communicating with the openings.

3. In a game table, a rectangular top having an upstanding marginal wooden rim, said rim having spaced vertical openings formed therein, transverse gutters pivotally secured to the underside of the top for movement about horizontal longitudinal axes and communicating with the openings, a channel shaped longitudinally extending runway pivoted at its mid-point on a horizontaltransverse axis and to the central portion of the underside of the top, said runway having openings in its side walls receiving the free ends ofy the' gutters and ball return receptacles at the ends of the table underlying the ends of therunway.

BERNARD C. H. PARK. JOE L. BALDWIN.

Country Datev Great Britain of v1910 Number 

